Tobacco spreader for cigarette machines



Aug. '4, 1931.

c. w. MULL ER TOBAGC SPREADER FOR CIGARETTE IACHINES' 4 shans-Sheet 1 .Filed SepL 7. 1929 I 1/ IIIIIIII II /IIJ III/II !Il/l ll/ll IIII//l///// Aug. 4, 1931. c w MULLER l,8l7,319

TOBACCO SPREADER FOR CIGARETTE IIA CHINES Filed Sept. 7; 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll lll SIIII II ;LLL

Aug. 4, 1931. c. w. MULLER TOBACCO SPREADER FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheef s Filed Sept. '7, 1929 v Patcnted Aug. 4, 1931 i N TED ST'AT-VEVS' 'PATE-:NT OFFE CARL WILEELM MLLEm OF DRESDEN, GEBMANY, ASSIGNOR TO TH?) FIRM UNI- 'VEBSE'LIE" CIGABETTENMASCHINEN-JABRIK J'. C. MULLER & CO., OF DBESDEN omm- 'roBAcoo sPItER ron CIGARETTE MACHINES Application filed September 7, 1929,' Serial No. 391,061', and in .October 1 1928. i

The present invention relates to tobacco spreaders' for cigarette machines.

While it is known in cigarette filling machi'nes to introduce-into ajchannel a definite quota of cut tobacco sufl'cient toform the cigarettes and to compress it by means of a plunger in order then to introduce the rod of tobacco of the right compactness into `the cigar'ette paper case, the present 'invention is concerned with thepreparation of'the cut tobacco with a view to loosening it and uniformly distributing it for cigarette machines,

i so that the known plunger filling device can suitably be employed in conjuncton with the apparatus of the present invention.

For the purpose in question' it is customary to use so-called tobacco spreaders various forms of which have been proposed. Among o'ther suggestions it has been proposed to feed the cut tobacco through a vertical channel to a take-up roller fitted with pins and arranged at the lower end of the channel,which roller rotates at uniform speed and co-operates ,livered to a further pin roller on with a suitaby concentrically arranged eX- tension of one channel wall in such manner that a uni'form quantity of tobacc'o is dewhich the usual fleece is formed.

a The problem of laying in the groove in the band convyor which received the U-shaped tobacco strip leading to the'cigar'ette machine a strip of tobaccowhich is uniform as regards quantity and density has hitherto not been satisfactorily solved i V The present invention'ofiers a solution of this problem by' providing for'the receptibn of the tobacco prepared, loosened and already distributed by the known pin rollers and the take-up 'roller' abroad channel of a width corresponding to the arriving fleece of tobacco, from which-channel the tobacco is removed by pin rollers or the like Operating at the end of the channel, in -continuously uni- .form quantity, while a plurality of plungers arranged alongside one another' act on the store of tobacco in the channel to compact i V uniformly the contents of the channel.

In this way a tobacco strip of consider-able .area. is formed with certainty in the channel, which strip is uniform as regards the quantity and density qf'thetobacco. If uniforn quantities of tobaco be removed from this supply in thef hannel there may be provided" a set of adjacent fiexible pressers of steel or the like, so' uoperated that they enter the channel at regular distances apart at its upper end, move downwards while being;

. fiexed, and then emerge from the channel.

By` this arrangement uniform pressure is eXerted on the tobacco supply in the channel, becausethe pressers are flexed in proportion ,to the resistance.

The inve'ntion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section through the improved apparatus; Fig. 2 is a similar cross section with the parts in questionin difl'erent-.posi tions. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the channel. Fig. 4; shows a modified form of channel' "Figs 5 to 8 illus'trate embodiments in which the plung'ers are replacedby resilient fingers, Fig. 5 being a vertical cross section through the apparatus, Fig. 6 a detail- ,View from the side, while Figs. 7 and 8 show a modified form of presser in elevationand in plan View.

Referring to the drawings, the cut tobacco is located in a hopper 1 and is'fed to the usual take .up' roller 5 in known ma'nner by the band 2 forming the ,bottom of the hopper. Theband passes over the rollers 3 and l, its upper flight moving in the direction of the arrow. The pins of this roller 5 grip the tobacco and entrain a layer of tbacco which is V 5 and 6. The spacing of the walls 11, 12 is such as to suit the quantity of tobacco arriving.

The front wall 11 of the channel, which may be in one with the inclined track 8, is m'ounted so as to be vertically movable. Guide members 13 Secured to the wall 11 of I the channel and having vertical slots co-operate with guide pins 14 extending into the Slots. The vertical movement is efiiected by hell-cra'nk levers 15 which are mounted on fixed pivots 16 and one arm of each of whichis fitted with a roller 17 engaging the 'under side of a projection 18 on the wall 11, while 'the other arm is fitted with roller 19 tracking a cam 20 which is secured to the shaft 21 and which rotates in the direction of the arrow.

On each rotation of the cam 20, the levers 15 are rocked to lift the wall 11 of the channel as shown in Fig. 2. E

'The other wall 12 of the channel is carried by rock levers 22, 23 which are pivotally connected to the upper and lower cnds of the wall 12 at 24, 25 and thercwith form a link parallelogram. The upper levers 22 are formed as bell-crank levers andthe free end of each is fit-ted with a roller 26 tracking the cam 27 Secured to the shaft 28 and rotating in the direction of the arrow. On each rotation of the shaft 28, the levers 22, 23 are rocked and as a result the wall 12 is raised and moved away somewhat from the wall 11 as indicated in Fig. 2. 4

The lower end of the front wall 11 is pressed by a presser lever 29 against a shaped member or concave 30 which in conjunction with the pin roller 31 forms the lower closnre of the channel. The shaped member on the side nearest the pin roller 31 is arranged concenti-ic with this roller and' at a distance from the roller equal to the length of the pins. The pin-roller 31 rotates in the direction of the arrow and co-operates with a second pin roller 32 .so arranged that the tobacco i'ed forwards by the first pin roller 31 over the edge m of the shaped member 30 is led by the roller 32 into the hop'per 33, 'from which the tobacco passes on to the feed hand 34 leading in the direction tow ards the vigan-.tte machine into the U-shaped groovc 35.

Adjacent to the upper end of the channel are provided Vertical plungers 36 disposed directly alongside one another, and shaped accordingto the width of the channel. These plungers are guided for vertical movement on the wall 9 and on the guide bars 37, 38. Each plunger is provided on the rear side with projecton 39, and with each projection 39 co-operates the bell-crank lever 40, one arm 41 of which carries a roller engaging the 'cam 42. A spring 43 maintains engagement between the roller and the cam. The cam 42 Secured to the shaft 44 is rotated in the direction of the arrow. On each rotat-ion;

of the cam 42, the relative plunger is raised, the roller 45 on the end of the actuating lever 40 engaging the under side of the projection 39. v

Fig. 2 shows the raised position of the plunger 36. Each plunger is provided at its uper end with a further projection 46, which permits the plunger to be lowered only until the projection 46 rests on the guide bar 37. The movements of the walls 11, 12 and of the plungers 36 are socontrolled that with' the pl'ungers in raised position the opening 10 is free and fresh tobacco can pass into the channel'. At the same time the rear wall '12 is moved away somewhat from the front wall 11 for the purpose of releasing the tobacco, and at the same time the two walls 11, 12 are raised. Then the walls 11, 12 move towards one another and at the same time move downwards, so that the tobacco in the ch annel is pressed somewhatslightly laterally and also moved downwards. Then the actuating levers 40 release the plungers which bear with their weight on the tobacco in the channel. The plungers sink more or less dependent on the density of the tobacco in the difierent parts of the channel as is clear from Fig. 3. By means of the plungbacco of uniform quality must pass into the.

channel 33.

The weight of the plungers can be regnlate-d to correspond to the properties of the grades of tobacco to be treated by making v the plmgers partly hollow at the upper end fil): the introduction of weights 47 or the li e.

A modification is illustrated in Fig. 4 in which the two walls 11,12 of the channel are not arranged for conjoint bodily recipro-. caton, but the rear wall can be rased somewhat. Over the adjacent faces of the inelined walls 11, 12 are led the flights 48, 49 of endless bands which pass around the guide pulleys 50, 51, 52, 53 and move in the direction of the arrow. These slowly mov-` ing bands grip the tobacco in the channel and p feed the tobacco in the channeldownwards in dependence on the speed of operation of the -pin roller 31.

As seen in Figs. 5 and 6, in lieu of the plungers 36 adjacent to the channel ll, 12

. said channel.

there is arrange'd'on the right hand side (see F ig. of the channel a roller 54 mounted on the shaft 55. .On the roller 54 are Secured resilient tines of steel or the like which are bent as shown in F ig. 5 and which enter slots 57 in the side wall 11 and while being flexed press the tobacco downwards in' the channel. i

"In the modificationshown in Figs, 7 and 8 there are a--angd adjacent to-one another -more or less elastic fingers 58 which are' mounted on the supporting bar 59. This bar 59 is Secured at b'oth encls to the connecting ,rods 60 of two parallelcrank drives. These parallel crank drives consist of discs 61 nounted on shafts 62 and set inuniform rotation by sprocket wheels 63 and chains 64. The crank mechanism is actuated by chains 65 which rotate' uniformly the sprocketwheels 66 Secured to the upper shafts 62. The action of the fin gers 58 will be eviclent from examination of the circle' shown' in dotted lines which represeits the line of movement of the foremost end of the fingers. The fingers thus enter the channel at the upper end, move downwards and again move outwards. Any'.particles of tobacco beneath the fingers are thus gripped and pressecl clownwards, the fingers of elastic material exercising 'nild pressure on the tobacco in the channel. Slots 67 are provided -as in the embodiment shown in Fig's. 5 and 6 by which the fingers .pass through the walls 11, 12 into and out of the channel.

I claim I 1. A tobacco spreader for cigarette machinescomprisingsubstantiallyparallelwalls spaced apart and presenting between them a channel, means for distributing the tobacco on its way to enter. said channel, means effccting movement of the tobacco along, said channel, means forefl'ecting continous uniformwithdr'awal of tobacco from thedelivery end of "said channel, and movable elemen'ts disposed alongside one another responsve t the density of said tobacco for 'acting on the latter in said channel to compact unformly the same passing through 2. A tobacco spreader for cigarette machines compri sing substantially parallel vertical walls spaced apart an& presenting between them a channel, means `for distributing the tobacco on its way to enter saidchannel,

means `efl'ecting movement of the tobacco .along said' channel, means for efl ecting continu'ous uniform withdrawal of tobacco from the delivery end of said channel, a set of plungers disposed 'alongside one another and adapted to act .exclusively by their own weight on the tobacco in said channel to compact uniformly the tobacco passing through said channel, and' means for lifting said plungers. e 3. A tobacco spreader for cigarette machines comprising substantially parallelvertical walls spaced apart' and presenting between them a channel, means for distributing the tobacco on' its way to enter said channel,

means for effecting up and down movement' of said walls and moving said walls towards and from' each other, means for efi'ectng continuous uniform withdrawal of tobacco from the delivery end of said channel, .a set :of vertically movable plungers dis'posed alongside one another and adapted' to act on the tobacco -in said channel to co'mpact uniformly the tobacco passing through said channel, and means for lifting the plunge'rs during the movement of said wallsaway from -one another.

4. A tobacco spreader for cigarette,ma-`

chines comprising substantiall parallel verticaljwalls' spaced apart and presenting between them a channel, means for distributing the tobacco on its way to enter said channel, conveyor bands extending lengthwise along said chamel for efl'ecting movement of the tobacco along said channel, means for effecting continuous uniform withdrawal of tobacco from the delivery end of said channel,

and movable elements disposed alongside one 'another responsive to the density -of said tobacco for acting on the latter in said channel to compact uniformly the same passing through said channel. i

5. A tobacco spreader for cigarette ma chines comprising substantially parallel ver: tical walls spaced-apart and presenting between thema channel, means for distributing the tobacco on its way to enter said channel,

means*` eflecting movement of the tobacco along said channel, means for efliecting con. tinuousuniform withdrawal of tobacco from the delivery end of said channel, a set of plungers disposed alongside one another and acting exclusively by gravity on the tobacco in said channel to comp'act uniformlythe tobacco passing through said channel, said plungers being formed hollow to receive weights, and means for lifting said ,plungers 6.' A tobacco spreader f or cigarette machines comprsing substantially parallel walls IUO spaced apart* and presentin-g between thema channel, means for distributing the tobacco on its way to enter said channel, means efl'e'cting movement-of the tobaccoalong said channel, means for efecting continuous' uniform withdrawal of tobacco from the delivery end of said channel, and flexible pressers disposed i of the tobacco along said channe enter said channel, means efl'ectin movement means for efl'ecting continuous uniform withdrawal of tobacco from the delivery end of said channel, a set of flexble tnes disposed alongside one another and adapted to act on the tobacco in said channel to'compact uniformly the tobacco passing through said channel, said tines bein adapted to penetratethe Slots in the slotte channel-wall, and a rotary member carrying said tines,

8. A tobacco spreader for cgarette machines co'mprising snbstantally parallel walls spaced apart and presentng between them a channel, means for dstrbutng the tobacco on its way to enter said channel, means effecting movement of the tobacco along said channel, means for effecting continuous uniform withdrawal of tobacco from the delivery end of said channel, resilent fingers disposed alongside one another and adapted to act on the tobacco in said channel to compact uniformly the tobacco passing through said channel, a bar carrying said fingers, two syn- ,clronously driven crank devices, and two connecting rods each connecting one crank device with one end of said bar.

9. A tobacco spreader comprsing a channel to which tobacco is led, means for distributing the tobacco on its way to said chan: nel, means for moving the tobacco along said channel', means for causing continuous uniform withdrawal of the tobacco from said channel and means to uniformly compact the tobacc passing through said channel, said last named means being responsive to the density of the tobacco for actuation thereon.

10. A tobacco spreader for cigarette machines eomprising substantially parallel vertical ,walls spaced apart and presenting between them a channel to which tobacco is led,

*means for dstributing the tobacco on its way to enter said channel, means for effecting up and down movement of said walls, means for eflecting continuous uniform withdrawal of r tobaco' from the delivery end of said `channel and movable means responsive to the density of said 'tobacco and actng on the latter in said channel' to uniformly compact said tobacc'o while the latter passe's therethrough.

In testimony' whereof I aflix my signature.

CARL WILHELM UL ER. 

